The eight of them were out to dinner. The new Team Guy were fresh back from a mission and had invited Neji and Naruto, as well as Kakashi and Ayame to join them.
On one side of the table sat Guy, Tenten, Ayame and Kakashi. On the opposite side were Lee, Hinata, Neji and Naruto.
Everyone was in good spirits, and Neji was glad to see that the tension between Tenten and Guy finally seemed to be gone.
They ordered enough food to feed twice the number of people in their party, and now that Naruto was past his morning sickness, he ate heartily.
"There's something we want to tell you all," Guy announced, wrapping an arm around Tenten's shoulders.
"That's right," Tenten happily agreed.
"We're getting married!" they said in unison with matching grins.
Neji dropped his chopsticks in shock, utterly astounded. Last he'd heard Tenten wasn't even sure she wanted to commit to co-parenting with Guy, and now they were getting married! I hope she's doing this for the right reasons…
"Way to go!" Naruto shouted from beside him, knocking Neji back into present moment. "This is so awesome! Isn't it, Neji?"
He looked at Naruto who was grinning at him, and then back at Tenten who was giving him an anxious look.
I have to say something… But what? She's your best friend and she's counting on your support, go with that.
"It's wonderful news," he allowed. "Congratulations. I know you're both good people, and you deserve every happiness."
"Thank you, Neji," she smiled.
"This is brilliant news!" Lee declared. "Our team will be stronger than ever now!"
"Right you are, Lee!" their sensei agreed.
"We have some news too," Kakashi said, side-eyeing Guy, before smiling at his girlfriend.
Ayame gave him an adoring look and lifted her left hand to reveal a sparkling diamond ring.
"No way!" Naruto shouted. "How'd you manage to get that out of him, Ayame?"
"Kakashi is actually really sweet," Ayame said.
There was a beat of silence and then they all laughed in disbelief.
"The proper ring is important. Right, Guy?"
Kakashi said, both as an evasive manoeuvre and to one-up his rival. Guy started to sweat because Tenten didn't have one.
"That's my bad," Tenten said, coming to the rescue. "I was the one who proposed. I'll get you a nice one soon, honey," she told Guy, patting his hand.
"We have news too!" Lee exclaimed, apparently unable to deal with being left out. "Hinata and I are dating!"
Hinata turned redder than beni shoga.
"Awesome!" Naruto cheered. "Good for you, Hinata!"
"Good work, Lee," Guy grinned, giving his pupil the thumbs up.
Neji leaned in and spoke softly to his cousin.
"I'm happy for you, Hinata. Lee is a good man."
"Th- Thank you," she smiled, still blushing.
They all chatted for a while, swapping stories and sharing details. Neji wanted to talk to Tenten privately, and saw his chance to pull her aside when she excused herself from the table. He waited a minute and then said he was going to the bar, meeting Tenten on her way back.
"Goodness," she said. "It's all happening, isn't it?"
"Apparently so. Tenten, I'm only going to ask you this once," he said. "Are you sure? You know you don't have to do this."
She gave him a little smile.
"He said the same thing. He's always been so good to me, Neji. I'd be a fool turn my back on this."
Neji didn't know if it was his place to ask, but if it wasn't for him, then he didn't know who else should have the right. And all he wanted was the right thing for his best friend.
"But do you love him?"
Being so in love and loved so much in return, Neji couldn't bear to think of her living a life without experiencing that, it was so vital to his own existence.
"Who would have thought you'd end up being the romantic of us all?" Tenten teased.
"It's impossible not to be when you experience a love as profound as I have. It's what I want for you."
"It might not be the kind of romance you experienced, but I do love him, Neji. He's a good man that I can depend on, and that matters to me. I think you're asking if I'm happy, and I am. I have a wonderful life."
"Then that's all that matters," he said, letting his doubts go and hugging her. "I'm happy for you, Tenten. Really."
"Thank you," she said, hugging him back. "Naruto was right. It is going to be nice to see our kids grow up together."
Neji drew back and gave her a smile.
"Yes," he agreed. "Naruto usually is."
They rejoined the group, both at ease.
Everyone was eating ice-cream for dessert when Tenten paused.
"Oh," she said, touching her belly, then smiling up at Guy. "Our baby just moved."
She guided his hand to the spot and after a moment his face lit up with a proud smile.
"Is it a ninja?" Naruto asked. "Our baby is, he kicks and punches me all the time."
"Of course he is," Guy answered.
"He?" Tenten checked, obviously feeling that a girl would be preferable. Guy sensed he may have said the wrong thing and grinned sheepishly. I wonder if Guy knows what he's in for now that Tenten gets to be the boss…
"May I?" Neji asked.
"Go ahead," Tenten agreed.
"Byakugan!"
He focussed on the chakra source in her belly, except…
"There are two."
"What?"
"Chakra sources. Tenten, you're having twins!"
"Twins…" Guy echoed, sounding faint.
"Yes," Neji confirmed, focussing closer on the intricate chakra interplay between the two unborn children. "It's incredible, they're sharing chakra."
"Imagine the jutsu…" Kakashi mused. Neji was thinking about it too, the things it might be possible for them to do with a chakra combination like that. Especially if they had chakra natures that complimented one another.
"Ha!" Guy exclaimed. "It's gonna take triplets to win this round, Kakashi."
"Does there really have to be a winner?" Ayame laughed nervously.
"Yes!" Guy and Kakashi said in unison, and then everybody laughed. It was such a perfect moment, and in the middle of it all was Naruto, who's infectious cheerfulness and determination, had inspired and influenced everyone they cared about towards a better future. None of this would be happening without him. Neji curled an arm around Naruto's shoulders and leaned in close to his ear.
"You're amazing. Thank you for being you."